SAYC--Commonly used by beginning players utilizing some basic duplicate bridge conventions. From ACBL.Standard American Yellow Card (SAYC)--Another source for explanations of conventions used on the SAYC. Link to fifthchair.org website.Standard American--Utilizes basic conventions and allows for the addition of more advanced conventions. Link to Richard Pavlicek's website.2/1 Game Force--Very popular system. Based on Standard American with 5-card majors. Biggest differenceis in the meaning of 2-level responses. Unlike Standard American where a 2-level response is notforcing to game, in the 2 over 1 bidding system, the auction does not conclude below a game level. Linkto Karen Walker's website.Precision--Used by many advanced players. Provides a method of describing your hand more precisely to your partner, i.e. point count and distribution. Link to usabridge.com website.

Online Bridge Sites with ACBL Sanctioned Games (All ACBL games have a fee to play)

Bridgebase Online--Free. Offers free games, teaching rooms and rooms to practice partnership bidding. ACBL sanctioned games are offered throughout the day, and cost $1 for a 12-board tournament, and $1.50 for an 18-board tournament. Both IMP and MP games. Vugraph feature shows lessons, bridge columns, and live broadcasts of international tournament events. Great place to play for masterpoints and work on improving your playing ability, especially when you are unable to get to a club game. Many other opportnities to play for free in non-ACBL games.OKbridge--Costs $9/month, plus an additional $5/month to play for masterpoints in ACBL sanctioned games. They offer 10 ACBL sanctioned games daily. Both IMP and MP scoring. Numerous non-ACBL games are also offered.Swan Games--Free. Provides online lessons, and bidding and practice tables. Offers 8 ACBL sanctioned games daily. To play in ACBL tournaments, you must purchase tickets. Cost of tickets varies with the number purchased. For $4.50 you get 10 tickets. For $10 you get 25 tickets. For $40 you get 100 tickets. It costs two tickets to play in an ACBL game. Tournament times vary. Number of boards per tournament is 15 or 16.